Researchers in Germany have identified a substance that selectively inhibits only those bacteria that cause periodontitis, thereby preserving the natural balance of the oral microbiome. This technology has been further developed and commercialised as a range of oral care products including toothpaste by the spin-off company PerioTrap.
The oral microbiome is home to more than 700 different bacterial species, of which only a few can cause periodontitis. These adhere to dental plaque, particularly along the gum line, where they trigger inflammation (gingivitis). This can potentially lead to chronic periodontitis.
Pathogenic bacteria are killed by conventional oral care products such as alcohol-based mouthwashes and products containing the antiseptic chlorhexidine, but these also eliminate beneficial microorganisms. When the oral microbiome re-establishes itself after treatment, pathogenic bacteria such as Porphyromonas gingivalis gain an early advantage because they proliferate particularly well in inflamed gum tissue. Beneficial bacteria grow more slowly, and the oral microbiome quickly shifts back from its natural balance into dysbiosis, allowing the disease to recur.
Researchers at Fraunhofer Gesellschaft have identified and developed a substance that selectively blocks harmful pathogens such as Porphyromonas gingivalis without affecting other bacteria. The substance is known as guanidinoethylbenzylamino imidazopyridine acetate.
Overcoming the technological challenges required extensive experimentation to develop the substance into an ingredient with all the necessary properties. The product has to be able to block harmful bacteria without being toxic, it must not be absorbed by the body or enter the bloodstream, and it should not cause tooth discolouration.
